Thursday, June 28, 2012

acrylic 24 x 36 inches,
Everytime I travel to the island, I fall in love with the Arbutus tree all over again. This is the first time I've painted one but it won't be my last. What an artists dream, the bright warm and cool colors, interesting twistted shapes...such possiblities!

Monday, June 25, 2012

This is a study for a larger 3 x 6 ft painting I started. I chose this particular scene because it is nondiscript and could be located almost anywhere. It didn't photograph very well so the colors are a little off...possiblly because of the layers of glazes and the way they are reflected. I will try again later.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

It's been awhile since I've been in my studio. I've just returned from an exhilarating trip to the west coast. We spent a few days along the Pacific Rim between Ucluelet and Tofino. Breathtaking! The weather was wonderful and trails spectacular! From there we travelled to Campbell River to Painters Lodge for a few days and then to Victoria. It was way too short. I have posted photos to my facebook page if anyone would like to check them out.

I wasn't planning on doing a west coast series this soon but while everything is fresh in my mind, I thought it might be a good idea. I've started with a trail image, straying not too far from the safety net of my other landscape paintings and will build up to the ocean scenes which will be way out of my comfort zone.

acrylic 20 x 30 'Wild West Coast Trail'

Trying not to follow the photograph so literally,I concentrated more on the abstracted qualities and textures. I found the middle ground competing with the busyness of the trees in the foreground so I simplified and made it more of a foggy atmosphere. It's not exactly screaming 'west coast' but it works for me.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

I've been working on a bear series this past week. It's a little strange for me but I decided to work on them all at once. I started with the drawings on the canvas, then applied the gel with a palette knife and let them dry. I then applied transparent undercolors. During the drying period I also started work on a large diptych landscape. I am now ready to paint them one at a time. So...even though I had no posts for awhile, I have been busy. This is the first bear of the series and I have to thank Andrea Hummel for granting me the use of her lovey photo. link I didn't like the direction the bear was facing...I felt it was taking the viewer out of the painting...much better now.